Sundari Trees of Sundarbans Mangrove Forests, a Photo Essay
Along the edge of land, that meets the salty sea, trees and shrubs have adapted themselves to the different moods of sea. Modifications in them due to exposure to cyclic tidal waves and unpredictable cyclonic waves vary from place to place. Sundarbans Mangrove forests have at least 10 different types of trees.
During my trip to Sundarbans National Park I managed to click some of the varieties of the mangrove trees. In Sundarbans they say that: Seeing a tiger in Sunderbans is as good as being inside its stomach! Well! That was the only consolation (celebration) of not being able to see the ever elusive Royal Bengal Tiger of Sundarbans.
The fact that I am ‘alive and blogging’ is a proof that I could not spot a single tiger there. My Sundarbans National Park experience was bitter sweet.
Flora of Sundarbans
Here are some flowers fresh from Sundarbans National Park.
Heritiera Fomes Flora of Sundarbans you can find plenty of these Sundari flowers in clusters.
Yellowish-green in color, Xylocarpus mekongensis
Though the word ‘Sundarbans’ literally means ‘beautiful forest’ in Bengali language, the place actually got its name from Sundari trees. These trees grow in huge numbers here.
Spring is the best time to visit if you wish to see a Sundari tree in full bloom. Scientific name: Heritiera littoralis , another name: Looking-glass mangrove.
Root Spikes of Sundari Tree
The roots of the tree look strange as they grow up from mud like spikes. It will difficult for humans to traverse through vast stretches of such root spikes, though the animals can find their way easily through these.
Sadly that is one reason why human habitation is not possible in these regions of Mangrove Forests! At the base, the roots spread out in a strange manner giving support to the tree and withstand the forces of rising and retreating tides.
Floods in Sundarbans
This Sundarbans delta is formed by Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers when their water flows into Bay Of Bengal. It has a healthy ground for mangrove trees to flourish. This Sundarbans Reserve Forest (SRF), located between the River Baleswar in the East and the Harinbanga in the West, adjoining to the Bay of Bengal. India’s Sundarbans is listed in UNESCO World Heritage site; inscribed in 1987 it is the largest mangrove forest in the world.
Mangrove Forests act as absorber of impact of cyclonic winds that comes over Bay of Bengal. But rampant felling of trees in the forests has increased the risk, damage and havoc caused by the cyclones. Sundari Trees – this species of tree family is one of those rare types that can flourish in salty water.
Roots of these trees provide safe habitat for underwater marine life. Largest amount of mangrove coverage can be found in Indonesia. I spotted some during my trip to Merese Hill in Lombok Island of Indonesia.
It is really important that illicit logging and felling of these precious trees should be stopped before the National Park shrinks further.
Plank roots of Xylocarpus granatum and Knee roots of Bruguiera Sundarbans Mangrove Forests
Best time to Sundarbans National Park is between September to March.
We visited in April when the flowers of Sundari trees in the tidal forest were just beginning to bloom. A visit to Sunderbans few months from now, you will get to see the fruits, probably then the chances of spotting a deer will be more as they feed on it. And if you get luckier may be you can spot a tiger chasing the deer. Who knows!
Species of Sundarbans Mangrove Trees
All mangrove trees that grow along the shores of sea show a number of adaptations to counter harsh environmental conditions like high salinity and water logged soil. Major adaptations are breathing roots called pneumatophores, fleshy leaves, viviparous germination, and presence of buttress, stilt and snake roots.
Here are the names of 10 species of Sundarbans Mangrove Trees:
- Passur ( Xylocarpus Granatum)
- Khalsi (Aegiceras corniculatum)
- Keora ( Sonneratia apetala)
- Golpata ( Nypa Fruticans)
- Hental (Phoenix Paludosa)
- Kankra (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza)
- Kala Baen ( Avicennia Alba)
- Jat Baen (Avicennia Officinalis)
- Genwa (Excoecaria agallocha)
Stilt roots of Rhizophora Sundarbans Mangrove Forests
A young Xylocarpus moluccensis tree from Sundarbans National Park Bengal
Kankra (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza)
Bruguiera gymnorhiza has the largest leaves, flowers, propagules and lenticels of all Bruguiera species. Another name for this is Large-Leafed Orange Mangrove. It comes from the orange flowers and the large leaves that can reach up to 25 cm in length.
Bruguiera gymnorhiza is a robust mangrove with the ability to adapt to different growing conditions. Due the robustness it is one of the few mangrove species that can be grown as an indoor plant.
Kankra (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza) flowers
Khalsi Trees of Sundarbans Mangrove Forests
Aegiceras corniculatum, commonly known as black mangrove, river mangrove or khalsi in local language Bengali. It belongs to family. Flowers are small, white, arranged in bunches and smell like rotten bananas.
Khalsi (Aegiceras corniculatum) Trees of Sundarbans Mangrove Forests
Khalsi bud, flower and fruit
Hental (Phoenix Paludosa) from Sundarbans
Phoenix paludosa (swampy), also called the mangrove date palm, is a species of flowering plant in the palm family. This tree is native to coastal regions of India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, and peninsular Malaysia. They are known as Sea Dates.
Hental (Phoenix Paludosa) Trees – images of Sundarbans Mangrove Forests
Medicinal Properties of Sundari Tree
Freshwater is as scarce here as in a desert. The mangrove trees have to expend energy to get rid of the salt in every drop of water. Thus, mangroves have many water- conserving features similar to desert plants.
To minimize water loss through evaporation, the trees have thick waxy leaves, hairy leaves (to trap an insulating layer of air near the leaf). Trees store water in succulent leaves.
Mangroves also protect the tree parts with spiny leaves (e.g., Sea Holly) or waxy leaves; and high levels of tannin and other toxins (e.g., Blind Your Eye). Mangrove plants are thus a precious resource of chemicals that have myriad potential uses for humans. There are many medicinal benefits of trees in mangrove forests. Locals there well understand the importance of mangrove forests.
People living beside the Sundarbans use this plant for curing many ailments. It is used in gastrointestinal disorders like diarrhea, dysentery, constipation, indigestion, and stomach ache.
The tree parts are also recommended for skin diseases including dermatitis, rash, eczema, boils, itch, scabies, infections, and hepatic disorders like jaundice and hepatitis. It is also useful for treating diseases like diabetes and goiter. Locals use it as a good insect repellent as it has wound healing property.
Trivia
Couple of passages in Manasamangal, a Bengali folk epic, was set in Sundarbans. It is in the part when the heroine Behula’s quests to bring Lakhindar, her husband, back to life. Sunderbans has been the subject of multiple non-fiction books, such as The Man-Eating Tigers of Sundarbans by Sy Montegomery.
Where to Stay in Sundarbans
There are several hotels and resorts in the islands of Sundarbans along the shores of backwaters. Alternately one can stay in hotels of Kolkata and make day trip to Sundarbans.
Lovely descriptions, and very helpful information as I am working on an ecological study about climate change effects in the Sundarbans and other areas of the subcontinent. Thanks for your excellent observations and post!
I am so glad this is helpful for you!
What pretty flowers!
That's an interesting plant!
These days, I've been seeing a lot of the Sunderban's Tiger series in Nat Geo and have become obsessed with the place. Hope to visit the place someday.
First time visiting your blog, like this.
Thanks for sharing the root knowledge. I would have assumed that they were trees just planted! That's a city girl talking so please excuse me for my ignorance. Walking through Sunderbans would have been quite an experience. Would you know how many more tigers are left there in the wild?
A very enjoyable post Indrani. Thank you very much for sharing it with Today's Flowers. I'm glad you are here to tell the tale 🙂
sundarbans is on my husband's must visit list so hopefully we will get there soon 🙂
Nice article.
its always a pleasent quite jungle for me to spend time whenever I am fed up.. or go to Bakkhali just a little bit of mosquito issue !! the mangroves amazing !!
Nice click !! Sundori lagche sundor !! 🙂
I know the travails of visiting a wildlife sanctuary and not seeing a tiger. What you have written as the last line is what I have been hoping for…someday maybe..
Ever since I read Amitav Ghosh's novel set in Sunderbans, the islands have enchanted me. This is another enchanting piece.
I guess I'm glad you didn't see a tiger. Thank you for sharing this pretty blossom with us. The information about the trees is fascinating.
I love how you gave the botanical name of the tree's. That was very interesting detail..and I'm glad the Bengal Tiger was somewhere else that day! Have a wonderful week to come..
~Shirley
Beautiful flower.
It is sad to see that you could not spot the tiger there.
Wow Indrani! Envying you! More so because I cancelled a Sunderban plan earlier this year 🙁
Have fun!
nice write up and lovely clicks
Interesting facts on Sunderban! These spikes look as protectors of this forest.
Beautiful flowers Indrani 🙂
-Pranav
How unique the spikes are..! nice pics..!
Although you missed the tiger, you saw the beautiful Sundari flowers!
Wow! What a beautiful place. And tigers live there?? Wow!
Hope you get to see one at a safe distance though…ha
Hugs
SueAnn
Informative and interestingly told. Nice read:)
Amitav Ghosh beautifully describes Sunderbans in one of his novels and it tempts me to visit this place for once. But the Sundari trees are quite a news for me.Nice write.
Love your text.
Beautiful forest! Clever spikes
Namaste
Love the captures
Glad to know you did not spot the tiger lol!
Love these pictures .
I enjoyed that little bit of history and I'm so glad you are alive and still blogging with us. 🙂
when i visited sasan gir national park in gujarat last month, i too was disappointed for not having spotted a lion that wasn't at least a couple of miles away- i understand how bad it feels!
moreover, back then, i was wondering whether my chances would be better in the sunderbans..
Those are beautiful flowers. I had to skip it this week because my computer died and I'm just getting my new one up.
After all the warning of one likely to end in its stomach,who would like to spot a tiger.Is there no secure way to watch tigers?
The picture of flowers is very nice.
Have you been at a place nearby tigers?! wow! I'm glad you didn't see any then, glad you're still alive! 🙂
How strange the small "baby trees" are, or the roots.. I've often think, how incredible..that the nature find its own way. to solve things. here to make shelter for trees and animals, maybe..
Glad you did not find the tiger …
Thank you for your participation.
well, i am glad you did not see the tigers, then. 🙂
Isn't nature wonderful. Those Sundari trees provide protection for the wild animals and when they die and rot, they support the next one. I would LOVE to see a tiger, but I'm pleased you're OK and alive. We have a life-sized tiger toy on the cat's day bed. They love it and everyone who visits us, wants to take it away with them. Thanks for visiting my blog.Greetings Jo
i think we also have this species of mangrove…i remember the spikes in a mangrove forest i visited in high school. i'd rather see the mangroves than a Bengal tiger! thank God, you didn't see one.:p
The tree roots remind me of cyprus knees in the Louisiana swamps
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